Gervais defends joke about killing prostitutes

The comedian Ricky Gervais has defended himself after making a joke about the killing of prostitutes weeks after five sex workers were murdered in Suffolk.

The comic, on tour with his show Fame, told a story at a venue in Glasgow about a time he was asked for his advice on becoming famous. "Go out and kill a prostitute," he said, before adding: "I won't do this bit in Ipswich."

Jim Duell, the father of 19-year-old Tania Nicol, one of the five women killed, told the Ipswich Evening Star: "These days they want to make a joke out of everything. If this comedian is saying things like this he is trampling on a lot of emotions."

Gervais, who brings his show to Ipswich in March, said the conversation he referred to happened five years ago, and he was talking about people who will do anything to become famous.

Steve Wright, 48, of Ipswich, has been charged with the murders of Ms Nicol; Gemma Adams, 25; Paula Clennell, 24; Anneli Alderton, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.